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No. 7 Cal Rolls Past Oregon State, 7-2

The seventh-ranked California softball team scored five runs in the fifth inning to pull away from Oregon State, 7-2 in Friday's Pac-10 conference matchup. With the win, the Golden Bears improve to 30-9 (2-2 Pac-10) as the Beavers fall 24-17 and remain winless in conference action (0-5).

Cal's first two runs came in the third, off senior Courtney Scott's line drive base hit to left field, scoring designated player LeAnna Hoglen and third baseman Vicky Galindo, both who reached base on singles up the middle.

The Beavers rallied back in the fourth, tying the game off catcher Shelly Prochaska's two-run dinger to left field. The shot scored Adrienne Alo, who reached base on a one-out double to right field that broke up the 3.1 inning perfect game that freshman pitcher Kristina Thorson was working.

In the fifth, Cal charged the bases with runners at second and third, two outs and senior Veronica Nelson in the box. The Bears took a 3-2 lead when Oregon State attempted an intentional walk pitch out to Nelson, the NCAA single season walk record holder. The first pitch wildly bounced behind the plate, scoring Hoglen from third. With a 3-0 count, Nelson ripped the next intentional walk pitch to left field, gaining a second life as it landed in foul territory. She then cranked the next intentional walk pitch out down the left field line, scoring left fielder Lindsay James from third, with her second single of the day. After a base hit to center fielder Kaleo Eldredge, junior Eryn Manahan cleared the bases with a three-run blast to left field, her fourth of the season, for an eventual final score of 7-2.

Sophomore Kelly Anderson (3.0 innings, 1 hit, two walks, three strikeouts) collected the win, improving to 12-4 for the season, after relieving Thorson (4.0 innings, two hits, two earned runs, no walks, five strikeouts) in the top of the fifth. The duo combined for a three-hitter against the Beavers. Starter Amy Klever suffered the loss for OSU, falling to 5-4 for the season, tossing 4.2 innings, allowing six hits, five earned runs, three walks and one strikeout. Dena DuBois entered the circle for the Beavers in the fifth, allowing three hits, two earned runs, no walks and one strikeout.

Offensively, the Bears were led by two-hit performances from Galindo (2-for-3, 1 run), Nelson (2-for-3, 1 RBI) and LeAnna Hoglen (2-for-3, 2 runs). Cal left four runners on base to the Beavers' three.